Amazon ‘not happy’ with Priyanka Chopra’s Citadel 2, hits brakes on Varun Dhawan’s spin-off: report | Hollywood News

Amazon Prime video’s spy series Citadel, starring Priyanka Chopra Jonas and Richard Madden, has hit another major setback. Backed the Russo Brothers’ production company AGBO, the show promised an interconnected universe of international spin-offs. However, according to The Hollywood Reporter, insiders suggest that the makers are ‘not happy’ with how the show is shaping up. This follows the sudden exit of Jennifer Salke, former Head of Amazon MGM Studios. From the start, Citadel has struggled with budget overruns, creative clashes, and production delays, and now, its future seems more uncertain than ever.
Also read: Citadel review: Generic and uninspired, Priyanka Chopra’s Prime Video spy show is an epic mess
Priyanka Chopra’s Citadel 2 hit with delay
The second season of Citadel, originally scheduled for a Fall 2025 release, has reportedly been pushed to Spring 2026. Meanwhile, Amazon MGM has hit the brakes on all spin-off projects. Insiders claim that Amazon MGM is not satisfied with what they’ve seen from Citadel Season 2 so far. While the OTT has yet to announce an official release date, sources suggest that delays could stretch even further if the studio demands more revisions in the show. The filming has already wrapped up. Adding to the turmoil, Jennifer Salke, for whom Citadel was one of the biggest bets of her tenure at Amazon MGM Studios, has stepped down as its head.  Salke played a key role in bringing the Russo Brothers on board and pushing the show as Amazon’s answer to James Bond. Now, the show’s future looks more uncertain than ever.
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Also read: Priyanka Chopra says Citadel is the first time she got equal pay in her 22-year career: ‘I might get into trouble for saying this…’
Citadel is an American spy TV series created Josh Appelbaum, Bryan Oh, and David Weil as an original for Amazon Prime Video. However, in 2021, due to creative differences with the Russos, Appelbaum and screenwriter André Nemec parted ways with the project midway. The series stars Richard Madden and Priyanka Chopra as Citadel agents Mason Kane and Nadia Sinh. The first season premiered on April 28, 2023, and was subsequently renewed for a second season.
What happens to the Citadel spin-offs?
One of the major selling points of Citadel was its global appeal, with planned spin-offs in multiple countries. Two of these, including Citadel: Diana (Italy) and Citadel: Honey Bunny (India), already made it to the streaming platform earning decent viewership. However, Amazon MGM has put all further development on hold until Citadel Season 2 is completed. Reports suggest that Citadel: Honey Bunny, which stars Varun Dhawan and Samantha Ruth Prabhu, has a better chance of getting renewed. But for now, no official decisions have been made about the future of either spin-off.
The road to Citadel’s debut was already long and expensive. Between reshoots, creative visions, and crew departures, the first season’s budget ballooned to over $200 million, making it one of the most expensive shows ever produced. Despite decent viewership outside the U.S., its domestic performance was underwhelming, making its Season 2 renewal a surprise move. If Season 2 doesn’t deliver, Citadel could end up being one of the most costly streaming experiments to fizzle out. For now, Priyanka Chopra fans will have to wait and see what’s next for her globe-trotting spy character, Nadia Sinh.